6
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008
Stye fttilij ®ar MM
Established 1893,
115 years
ofeditorialfreedom
ALEX LEE
GUEST COLUMNIST
Sophomore political science and
English major from London.
E-MAIL LEEACL@EMAIL.UNC.EDU
Americans
need to
bring back
chivalry
Like any foreign national
studying at an American
university, I can’t help but
continuously compare U.S. cus
toms and culture to that of my
homeland. Usually these “com
parisons” are little more than
imperialistic rants, but some
issues show
a significant
divide between
the British and
GUEST
COLUMNIST
American mindset.
One such issue is a concept
we’ve seen shrivel from a code
of conduct held in the highest
regard into an ideal whose name
cannot be whispered on cam
pus without evoking the rage of
numerous feminist groups.
I am talking, of course, about
chivalry.
Chivalry at UNC is perceived as
giving up a seat on the P2P to that
girl whose friends have to carry her
on or holding open the UL door so
it doesn’t hit the person behind you
in the face. It’s a poor reflection of
our society that I need to point out
that these are not chivalry, they are
simply good manners.
American culture indicates
that being overly friendly, smiling
politely and pretending to agree
simply to avoid conflict represents
honorable conduct It doesn’t
Unnoticed acts of honesty,
bravery and compassion, previ
ously dictated by human decency,
have become replaced by social
climbing and the jungle-law atti
tude of modern culture.
This point is where the real split
between British and American cul
ture becomes evident Not for the
first time, I was informed last week
that myself and all Englishman are
“blunt cynical and old-fashioned.”
This is likely true. English edu
cation prioritizes honesty and fair
treatment rather than avoidance
of truth for social appeasement
British boarding school seeks to
foster the growth of young ladies
and gentleman into well-rounded,
respected members of society,
rather than churning out students
with As in math and English.
American education seems far
more focused on the perfect GPA,
expanding a resume and flattering
the right people to get ahead.
Dishonesty With our fellow
students represents a lack of the
courage needed to speak ones’ own
opinions and is a disservice to our
peers. To find within each of us the
inner mettle to discard social opin
ion and to be honest and straight
with each other and ourselves,
regardless of the consequences
this is the nature of chivalry.
Gentlemanly conduct in recent
years has been condemned as
condescending and anachronistic.
The idea of “women and children
first” is contemptuously viewed
as a pompous attempt by men to
impose a double standard.
Men of UNC, do not let this
assuage your nobility. Whilst
a bevy of shrieking feminists
going down with a sinking ship
might be an attractive notion, the
gentleman’s code of ethics must
remain intact simply because the
alternative shameless indi
vidualism is far worse.
Contrary to popular belief
chivalry is not an excuse for male
pompousness or for the imposi
tion of double standards. In a
modem setting the “knight in
shining armor” is androgynous.
Our university years represent a
stage in our lives when we make
decisions that will shape us as
individuals and dictate what kind
of men and women we grow to be.
Male and female Thr Heels,
from whatever background, should
seek to leave university not only as
accomplished academics, but as
individuals of strong character pre
pared to perform those unnoticed
dutiful acts of compassion and
courage that society needs.
ALLISON NICHOLS
EDTTOfL 90-4086
NALLSONOEMAH-UNC.EDU
OFFICE HOURS:
MON., WED. 2-3 P.M.
ERIC JOHNSON
PUBLIC EDITOR
ERICJOHNSONOUNC.EDU
EDITORIAL CARTOON By Terrence Nowiski, Western Front
Save the trees
UNC should celebrate cultural, religious diversity
with more not fewer decorations in the library
Don’t be a Grinch.
Instead of removing
the Christmas trees
from UNC’s libraries this year,
the University should instead
deck the halls with holiday
ornaments of more cultures
and religions.
Asa school that prides itself
on its diversity, UNC is acting
imprudently by simply remov
ing Christmas trees from Davis
and Wilson.
A much better idea would
be to embrace our diversity
by showcasing other winter
celebrations, like Hanukkah,
Wastingaway
Orange County Swnmissioners have studied waste
transfer site issue enough, should make a decision
The Orange County
Commissioners should
make a final decision on
a location for the county’s new
waste-transfer site at its Dec. 11
meeting.
Because Orange County’s cur
rent landfill is reaching capacity,
a waste-transfer site is urgently
needed.
Chairman Barry Jacobs said
that at the December meeting
the board might select a site,
propose to revise parts of the
selection process or start from
scratch.
The board already went
back to the drawing board last
Look both ways
Town right to think about improving pedestrian
safety, but there’s more to be done
V ■ vhe town’s testing of anew
I pedestrian crossing sys-
JL tern last week shows an
impressive openness to innova
tion and a special sensitivity to
safety on and near campus.
After several tragic accidents
involving pedestrians in the
past year, it’s good to see the
town looking for innovative
ways to address this problem.
While this new crossing
scheme doesn’t directly remedy
the major cause of the accident
in October (driver error), the
town is still right to address
the broader issue of pedestrian
safety.
The new system at the inter
section of South Columbia
Street and Cameron Avenue
allows pedestrians to cross in
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Opinion
HARRISON JOBE
OPINION CO-EDITOR
HJOBE@EMAIL.UNC.EDU
GRES MARGO LIS
OPINION CO-EDITOR
MARGOLIS.GR£G@GMAILCOM
Kwanzaa and the winter sol
stice, as well as Christmas.
First, the Christmas trees in
Davis and Wilson are an annu
al tradition at UNC.
Removing them would dis
appoint the many students who
have come to expect decorations
dining the holiday season.
Secondly, for those who do
not celebrate Christmas, it
would be an appropriate and
illustrative statement about
the cultural diversity of the
University if the libraries put
up holiday decorations from
other religious and cultural
November and since then its
selection process has been highly
transparent and fair.
It’s time to bite the bullet and
make a decision.
Certainly, no one wants a
waste-transfer site in his back
yard, and there has been a great
deal of public opposition about
the various proposed locations.
More than 250 people showed
up at last week’s public forum.
Not only has die board done
a good job at soliciting pub
lic input, but it has taken into
account the impact of the waste
transfer site on the community.
Last November, the board
all directions even diago
nally —as all the lights are red
for one cycle.
Town officials are interested
in testing the system for poten
tial expansion to other highly
trafficked intersections in
Chapel Hill.
The changes have been pro
posed as part of an effort made
by town officials to remedy
pedestrian safety issues.
In October a Chapel Hill
'fransit bus driver failed to yield
at a crosswalk at the intersec
tion of South Columbia Street
and Mason Farm Road, subse
quently striking and killing a
pedestrian.
There were also two pedes
trian deaths this past May
one close to campus on the
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
LISA ANDRUKONIS
BEN BUCK
JAMES DING
MICHAEL LEWIS
ANDREW STILES
SARAH WHITWORTH
traditions.
By doing so, UNC would
add to the rich diversity of this
campus, rather than subtract
from it.
And from a purely aesthetic
perspective, sprucing up the
libraries a little bit during the
final exam period would be a
nice holiday respite.
A Christmas tree, menorah,
and kinara together in the lob
bies of Davis and Wilson would
be an uplifting and welcoming
sight. But more importantly, it
would underscore the student
body’s diverse background.
rescinded its decision to place
the waste-transfer site in the
Rogers-Eubanks community
after public outcry.
And the board commis
sioned an additional study to
analyze the community impact
of each of the proposed sites.
The commissioners have
shown due diligence in their
decision-making process. It
would be hard to fault them for
making a hasty decision at this
point
Plans for anew waste-trans
fer site need to be finalized
quickly before we run out of
space.
comer of Manning Drive and
South Columbia Street.
The town should also con
sider other pedestrian safety
measures, like placing reflec
tors on crosswalks to help with
visibility at night or having
more concrete islands, like on
South Road on campus.
These measures would make
pedestrians feel safer and help
drivers remember to be on the
lookout.
It is certainly beneficial for
town officials to test to deter
mine what changes might pre
vent driver errors.
While new crosswalk
schemes are important, pedes
trian safety is still up to the
good judgment of drivers and
pedestrians themselves.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“From the looks of it, it seemed
like they wanted it a lot more
than we did.”
E.J. WILSON, UNC DEFENSIVE END
FEATURED ONLINE READER COMMENT:
“If Carolina did win this game,
you’d all he quick to rub it in (like
a rival would).”
ON "SENIOR DAY SPOILED BY WOLFPACK WIN"
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reports of Mardi Gras
Indians arrested untrue
TO THE EDITOR:
In response to a Friday night
online article regarding the
marchers arrested on Franklin
Street, I wanted to be sure both
the University and town commu
nity were aware that the report
of the arrested marchers being
members of the Mardi Gras
Indians, who visited campus on
Friday, was not true.
Though they led an approved
musical procession through the
Quad earlier in the afternoon,
they were having dinner with a
group of students at the time of
the reported incident.
I really appreciate the Daily
Tar Heel’s swiftness in remov
ing the article from the internet;
however, I did want to be cer
tain that anyone who had read
the article was not left with false
impressions of the Mardi Gras
Indians. Indeed, anyone, who
spent time with them or attend
ed their lecture earlier in the day,
would agree that they brought a
message celebrating unity and
community.
It was CUAB’s honor to host
them, and we want to thank
them for so generously sharing
their stories and their culture
with us.
Tom Allin
Senior
American Studies
Getting rid of Christmas
tree in library goes too far
TO THE EDITOR:
This has gone way too far. The
decorations and month-long
break have already been named
“holiday” instead of “Christmas.”
This is a “spirited” tree in the
library, it does not represent the
Christian Christmas which is
considered to be offensive.
Really, how offensive can this
tree be, especially to end a 30-
year-tradition? It’s funny how
we can take down a “Christmas
tree,” but not take down decora
tions representing other faiths.
Is one faith more offensive than
another? Again, the Christmas
tree itself does not represent
“Christmas” the meaning
comes from whatever you asso
ciate it with. Why not protest the
malls for displaying trees?
Our country is too concerned
with not offending someone, when
in turn, they are offending more
people Close your eyes ifyou don’t
like it and put the tree back! If we
are trying to be politically correct,
let’s represent AIL friths and not
exdude a certain one.
Leslie ReveUe
Sophomore
Communication
UNC should have place for
N.C State to get revenge
TO THE EDITOR:
In response to the article
“Red spray paint mars UNC,"
Nov. 21,1 believe that it is very
hypocritical of our campus to
repeatedly paint the N.C. State
Free Expression TVrnnel without
offering a legal alternative for
State fans to “return the favor.”
If we have any respect for the
integrity of our campus’s many
historical landmarks (which
State lacks) we should offer a
location for our rival schools to
communicate their hatred for
SPEAK OUT
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EDITOR'S NOTE Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily represent the opinions,
of The Daily Tar Heel or its staff. Editorials reflect the opinions of The Daily Tar Heel edito- ■
rial board. The board consists of seven board members, the associate opinion editor, the |
opinion editor and the editor.
Both} QJar Heri
our superior institution.
Wes Saunders
Sophomore
Political Science
Letter about Alma mater
was incomplete as edited
TO THE EDITOR:
If online comments are indica
tors, it seems that Mr. Hopper’s
letter (“Singing of Alma mater
should be classy, not rude,” Nov.
16) about the Fight Song was not
appreciated by fans. One wrote,
“Seriously, DTH, why did you
print this?” Agreed! Why was his
letter printed if the majority of the
important content was removed?
If there isn’t enough room to
print the letter without signifi
cantly altering the tone or mean
ing, then it should not be run.
Mr. Hopper’s original letter was
about returning compassion and
tivilily, not “destroying tradition”
or the fun, competitive spirit of
the games.
This slapdash editing of his
letter has prevented any sort of
meaningful discussion, leading
angry students to accuse Hopper
of being a “closet Duke fan”
ouch. Next time, have a little
more care in which words are
removed, and try using a scalpel
instead of a chainsaw.
Tanner Huggins
Senior
Peace, War, and
German
v k
' *
Allegra Torres
■ Junior
Communication Studies
'Project Heal' slogan was;
offensive, inappropriate ;
TO THE EDITOR:
On Nov. 13 at Player’s
Nightclub, “Project Heal,” a camf
pus organization, whose “misj
sion is to engage undergraduate
students in international servict
experiences to facilitate cultural*;
ly relevant and locally driven sus
tainable development in Lawra
and Kumasi, Ghana,” hosted 4
Wild, Wild West-themed party
to raise money for their organi
zation. As their efforts abroad
are certainly commendable, I
would encourage them to first
understand cultural issues right
here in America.
Their party’s original tagline,
“Poke-A-Hotass with Project
Heal,” presumably a pun ob
Pocahontas, was used to supporf
the original theme of cowboys
and Indians. As an American
Indian student here at UNC, ths
event was highly defamatoiy and
offensive.
Lately, there has been a lot of
talk about an inclusive campus
community. Yet at this institu
tion of the people, America’s
“first people’ (who still exist)
don’t feel welcome because of
blatant ignorance such as this.
Once contacted about th<
event and the offensive descrip
tion, the group changed the
theme of their party yet the
tagline remained. But this is not
an attack on a particular organi- %
zation just a friendly reminder
to make an effort to understand
and know before perpetuating
ignorance.
Tyler Thomas
Senior
Carolina Indian Circle
President
department and phone number.
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